Flood situation eases as rivers relent in Bihar

PATNA: There is almost no fear of floods marring Diwali and Chhath celebrations in the state as the water level of the Ganga and other major rivers has been falling consistently for the last one week.

The situation, however, is somewhat grim in the three eastern Bihar districts — Khagaria, Bhagalpur and Katihar — which are comparatively closer to the Farakka barrage across the Ganga. Moreover, there are reports of the Ganga and the Kosi causing severe erosion there.

According to a water resources department (WRD) bulletin, the only place where the Ganga was flowing above the danger level (21cm) on Thursday was Hathidah. It will, however, fall by 23cm by Friday morning. Similarly, the river was flowing below the danger level at Munger and Bhagalpur, but above the red mark at Kahalgaon on Thursday.

The Burhi Gandak, on the other hand, is flowing above the danger level at Khagaria. Also, the Kosi has been flowing 67cm above the red mark at Baltara in its upper stream and 91cm above the danger level at Kursela near which it falls in the Ganga.

As a result of the backwater effect from the Ganga, there were reports of floodwaters receding slowly from parts of Katihar district. However, the volume of water flowing through Punpun on the outskirts of Patna at Fatuha had fallen drastically.